West embarks on last attempt to preserve Ukraine

ASSOCIATED PRESS

March 14, 2014 12:01 AM

Secretary of State John Kerry talks with Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 13, 2014, prior to Kerry's testimony before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing on the State Departments fiscal 2015 budget. In his opening remarks Kerry spoke about Ukraine and other current foreign relation issues. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)AP

ASSOCIATED PRESS

March 14, 2014 12:01 AM

WASHINGTON -- In a last-minute bid to stave off a new chapter in the East-West crisis over Ukraine, Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia on Thursday that it faces immediate and "very serious" sanctions if it annexes Ukraine's strategic Crimea region.

His comments echoed those of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who hours earlier said Russia risks "massive" political and economic consequences if it refuses to soften its stance against the new government in Kiev.

The warnings from the West served as a last attempt to head off a confrontation over Crimea, which holds a vote Sunday on whether to break off from Ukraine and perhaps join Russia. The showdown has been cast as a struggle for the future of Ukraine, a country with the size and population similar to France, which is caught between its long-standing ties and traditions with Russia and more progressive and economic opportunities in the West.

Kerry was headed to London later Thursday in his last meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before the Crimea vote. In a brief phone call Thursday morning, Kerry underscored U.S. concerns about the Crimea vote and made clear there will be costs if Russia continues to escalate the crisis, according to a senior State Department official.